Becky Lynch’s NXT Title Win Boosts Viewership, Narrowing the Gap with AEW
The wrestling landscape is witnessing a fierce competition, especially between WWE’s NXT and AEW Dynamite. While WWE has historically downplayed the rivalry with All Elite Wrestling, recent viewership numbers suggest a tightening race between the two brands.
WWE’s strategy of integrating main roster talent into NXT has been evident, with the aim to not only enhance NXT’s viewership but also to revitalize certain main roster stars. This tactic bore fruit with the likes of Baron Corbin and Dana Brooke. A significant highlight was when Becky Lynch clinched the NXT Women’s Championship, marking her first reign with the title. Her victory over Tiffany Stratton in the NXT main event raked in an impressive 850,000 overnight viewers and a 0.26 rating in the 18-49 demographic. This achievement marked the highest ratings for NXT since September 2020.
In contrast, AEW Dynamite pulled in 888,000 viewers with a 0.31 rating. The Wrestling Observer Newsletter highlighted that WWE was on the brink of outpacing Dynamite, especially in the 18-34 demographic. The numbers were close, with NXT trailing by only 38,000 viewers. In specific demographics, such as over 50 and women aged 35-49, NXT took the lead.
Historically, WWE and AEW had their shows clashing on Wednesday nights. However, NXT’s shift to Tuesdays gave AEW a clear Wednesday slot. Despite this, WWE’s ambition to surpass AEW’s numbers remains evident. With NXT showcasing major champions like Becky Lynch and Dominik Mysterio, the brand is poised for growth.
The ongoing tussle between NXT and AEW Dynamite continues to captivate wrestling enthusiasts. As both brands strategize to gain the upper hand, fans are the real winners, treated to top-tier wrestling content week after week.
